Historic Stone Villa - Donner Summit - Ski, Hike & Climb - Sauna - EV Charger | House in Soda Springs

Stone Villa is a true family or group retreat. Possibly the first home built off Old Highway 40 in the 1920s, Stone Villa is one of the few private stone/rock homes in existence today. In 1957, Stone Villa was donated to the Oblates of Saint Joseph church by its original owners where it was used as a group retreat (St. Joseph's Villa) before becoming a private residence again. Stone Villa sits at the heart of Donner Summit — one of the Sierra's great year-round playgrounds, with adventure quite literally out the front door.
Stone Villa sleeps up to 12 guests plus one infant in the Pack and Play, with 3 full bathrooms, a fully stocked gourmet kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, private infrared sauna, propane firepit, full karaoke setup, 85" home theater, and high-speed Verizon 5G WiFi throughout.
In winter, you're minutes from Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, and Soda Springs Resort, with Northstar, Palisades and downtown Truckee a short drive away. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers have Royal Gorge — the largest cross-country resort in North America — practically next door, plus tubing hills the kids will love.
When the snow melts, Donner Summit becomes one of California's premier granite rock-climbing destinations, with classic crags just up the road for climbers of every level (guests can make use of several Organic bouldering pads and a hangboard at the property).
Hikers can set out on the Pacific Crest Trail, explore the historic Donner Summit railroad tunnels, or trek to Loch Leven Lakes, Summit Lake, and the Mt. Judah Loop.
Cool off with swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding at Donner Lake — two stand-up paddleboards, two inflatable tubes, and three Tahoe Regional passes for free parking for up to 3 cars at Donner Memorial State Park included — then round out the day with mountain biking, fishing, stargazing in the Sierra, and a soak in the infrared sauna or a fire at the propane firepit.
PREMIUM AMENITIES
Infrared Sauna
Private infrared sauna in the lower level bathroom — perfect for après-ski recovery or unwinding after a day on the trails.
Propane Firepit
Propane firepit at the back of the house — a relaxing spot to gather in the evenings year-round.
Entertainment Room
Big couch (converts to sleeper) and electric fireplace with space for the entire family. The entertainment room has an 85" TV with surround sound system and a full karaoke setup with iPad, two microphones, JBL speaker, and KaraFun or Apple Music Sing. Nintendo Switch is loaded with hundreds of classic games and several Switch favorites (Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Just Dance).
Deck BBQ Area
Napoleon Pro BBQ grill with sear station on the deck area. Please note that the deck may not be available for use during heavy snow storms.
EV Charging
Level 2 NACS (Tesla) charger installed at the property, available for free for guest use. Please note that charging times are limited to 12am-3pm.
Smart Home Features
Schlage smart lock entry, smart thermostats (Lennox and Nuheat), Sonos speaker, and two exterior Ring cameras (video doorbell at front entrance and spotlight camera on the side of the house monitoring the driveway and patio doors). No interior cameras.
BEDROOMS & LIVING SPACES
Primary Bedroom
Large open space with views of Sugar Bowl and Soda Springs Resort. King bed, twin daybed with trundle that sleeps two more, 4K TV with Roku, wireless phone chargers, and yoga mat. Pack and Play located in the closet.
Second Bedroom
King bed, wireless phone chargers, and a Roku 4K TV.
Third Bedroom
Two twin bunk beds (sleeps 4).
Living Room/Fireplace Room
Queen Murphy bed built into the wall, with a wood-burning fireplace as the centerpiece.
Great Room/Dining Room
Huge dining table with seating for 8-12 people (12 dining chairs plus bench seats for more people). 75" 4K TV with Roku and a modular sofa that can be turned into a sleeper.
Kitchen
The kitchen is fully stocked with pretty much anything a guest could need or not need. Plenty of cookware, olive and avocado oil, spices, dinnerware, utensils, chef's knives, air fryer, toaster oven, rice cooker, stand-up mixer, handheld mixer, food processor, sous vide machine, molcajete, tortilla press, pizza pans, and more. There's also 3-person seating at the countertop and a dinette area that seats 3-4 more people. Full coffee station for pour over, drip, or stocked Nespresso machine.
BATHROOMS
Primary Bathroom
Heated floors and large shower stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
Main Level Bathroom
Heated floors and shower/bath stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
Lower Level Bathroom
Large shower and infrared sauna. Bathroom is stocked with shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and other amenities.
WORK & WELLNESS
Workstations
Remote or hybrid workers can use two workstations with Mac and PC keyboards and 4K monitors. The main floor workstation has a single 27" 4K monitor with a stand-up desk, while the upstairs workstation has a dual 27" 4K monitor setup. High-speed Verizon 5G WiFi throughout the home.
Fitness/Gym Area
Climbers can use the hangboard, bouldering pads, fitness bands, yoga mat, and suspension trainer. All guests welcome to use at their own risk.
Instruments
Guests are welcome to use the guitars, bass, and ukulele but please treat instruments with care and respect.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Snow Tunnel & Mud Room
The entrance to the home leads to a long snow tunnel where guests can hang up to 6 skis/snowboards (can hold 12 but only hang up to 6) and safely leave gear (bikes, rafts, climbing gear, fishing gear, etc.). This leads to the heated mudroom where guests can leave jackets, boots, and shoes.
Cleaning
Standard cleaning fee covers normal turnover (bedding, surfaces, dishes). Additional fees may apply for excessive mess requiring extra cleaning time.
Guests
Only the guests on the confirmed reservation are allowed on the property. Extra guests must be approved by the owner in advance and may incur additional fees.
Dog Policy
Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Stone Villa! To keep our newly furnished home in great shape for every guest, we ask that you follow a few simple rules:
- Up to 2 dogs per stay, with a $300 pet fee per stay
- Please list all dogs on your reservation when booking
- Keep dogs off the furniture and beds
- Clean up after your dog, both indoors and in the yard
- Please don't leave dogs unattended in the home for extended periods
- Guests are responsible for any pet-related damage
Directions/Parking
Conveniently located off I-80 on Donner Pass Rd, Stone Villa is only a 2.5-3 hour drive from the Bay Area and about an hour from the Reno area. Guests should have proper winter tires or snow chains during snow season. 4WD/AWD is strongly recommended as this area can get several feet of snow in large storms. Driveway has parking for 4-6 vehicles (3-4 vehicles in front of the house and more on the side and back). Please remember only confirmed guests are allowed to stay at the house. Snow plow service comes with 4 inches or more of snow. Snow shoveling service is not provided for areas like stairs and deck during stays.
Stone Villa sits along the historic transcontinental route over Donner Summit, where Amtrak's California Zephyr and Union Pacific's "Gold Run" rail lines run several times a day and occasionally at night. Most guests find the passing trains a charming part of the mountain experience, and we provide ear plugs for light sleepers.

Historic Stone Villa - Donner Summit - Ski, Hike & Climb - Sauna - EV Charger is located in Soda Springs. Historic Stone Villa - Donner Summit - Ski, Hike & Climb - Sauna - EV Charger provides accommodation, featuring Parking, TV, Balcony/Terrace, among other amenities. This House features Parking, Pet Friendly and TV to make your stay a comfortable one.

Historic Stone Villa - Donner Summit - Ski, Hike & Climb - Sauna - EV Charger has 3 Bedrooms , 3 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 12 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated House because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this House, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. House has a friendly neighborhood, and the Soda Springs has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the House in Soda Springs, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.